Caned after Detention

I was interested to read the recollections of the grammar school boy who received a mandatory caning after receiving three detentions ( article here) since I attended an English grammar school in the late 1950s where I also fell victim to the 'three detentions rule' on a number of occasions. Boys who had been awarded three detentions in the space of a term had to submit to the additional punishment of a caning from the deputy headmaster. However, this rule was even more draconian at my school, for the caning was not carried out in private but in front of the detention class.

It was not that difficult to fall foul of the three detentions rule since detentions could result from all sorts of relatively minor misdeeds. Talking in class, not handing in your homework on time, being late for class, and failure to wear your school cap, to name but a few. I was generally a well behaved boy and although I was given the odd detention it was not until my third year at the school that I had the misfortune to gain the dreaded three detentions in a term.

It all seemed so unfair. It was bad enough having to sit through an hour's strictly invigilated detention, but knowing that you would have to submit to a caning at the close of detention surely amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. The prospect weighed upon your mind for the entire hour, making it very difficult to concentrate upon your detention tasks. I was not the only victim on this occasion, since several other boys were also serving their third detention that term.

At the end of the detention period, but before the assembled detainees were dismissed, we 'three detention boys' were made to line up in front of the deputy headmaster and shuffle forward one by one to have our backsides thrashed. I found it very humiliating to be punished in this way, watched by a room full of fellow pupils. When my turn came to bend over for my four strokes the stinging pain was excruciating and it was all I could do to hold back my tears.

Although the three detentions rule may sound rather harsh, it should be remembered that in those days corporal punishment was accepted as a normal part of school life. Prior to starting at the school, I went along with my parents to a meeting with the senior school staff. Among other matters, the headmaster spoke about the school's approach to discipline and the three detentions rule was mentioned. It was also explained that a detention chart was kept, with a mark being recorded against a boy's name for each detention awarded. It was pointed out that three such marks in a term brought a mandatory dose of the cane.

I received a several more 'three detention canings' during my grammar school career. The cane was also employed to punish serious rulebreaking such as fighting, smoking and wilful disobedience but as I never committed such offences I avoided the six of the best that such wrongdoers usually received. However, I can recall being whacked for venturing into the local sweet shop during the morning break, when it had been declared out of bounds. This disobedience earned me three strokes, given immediately after school the same day.